Dear Columbus City School Board Members,

The Cranbrook Elementary School Parent Teacher Association and our school community are writing to express strong support for the “Safe Green Schools” initiative. We ask you to ensure the district is taking advantage of the unprecedented federal funding currently available for climate-friendly school renovations. The billions of dollars allocated toward making our schools greener and healthier present a historic opportunity that we cannot afford to miss. These investments will not only transform our schools into sustainable, cost-effective environments but also ensure a brighter, healthier future for our children and our city.

Cranbrook Elementary School should be a priority location for your green energy investments. As you know, Cranbrook Elementary is a thriving, valued school community serving students of all backgrounds. We excel in welcoming and educating all students, particularly those who identify as New American, Refugee, and those with special needs. Just this year our school received 5 stars in Gap Achievement from the State’s Report Card. Our school and community have demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability education and climate action by offering gardening classes, access to nature and a native prairie, and raising over $100,000 to build a foot bridge to offer walking and biking access to our school. While our school, our teachers, and our community are proud of the service we are providing to our students, we also know that our students deserve and need more and better learning space on the Cranbrook site. Now is the opportunity to take advantage of federal IRA funding and tax incentives to ensure our building is renovated, expanded, and equipped with green energy solutions.  

We know Columbus City Schools can achieve a future where our schools are powered by green energy, accessible from every neighborhood by walking, biking, and electrified buses, and surrounded by inviting green spaces. This means investing in green infrastructure, considering how schools fit within the fabric of our region, and ensuring education is easily accessible in every neighborhood.

These improvements are about more than buildings—they’re about planning for our city’s future, fostering spaces where students and teachers can focus on learning and growth in an environment that values their health. By creating walkable, accessible, neighborhood scale facilities, and prioritizing air quality, we can build a Columbus where people of every race, background, and gender have the freedom to breathe easier, thrive, and prepare for their best future. This equity aligned sustainability transformation will enhance our school facilities, strengthen our community, and make Columbus a greener, healthier place for all.

We invite Columbus City Schools to

• engage with the “Safe Green Schools Initiative” to leverage unprecedented funding for sustainable energy infrastructure for Cranbrook and other schools;
• be active participants in the City of Columbus’s “Safe Routes to School” planning process to offer a diversity of cost effective, equitable transportation options to access public education; and
• continue to seek partnerships to offer healthy, sustainable, and nature-focused playgrounds, outdoor spaces, and community gardens on school properties.   

We urge you to make the choice to lead Columbus City Schools into a sustainable future, ensuring that this historic funding works for our schools, our students, and our community. Thank you for considering the importance of these changes. We look forward to working with you.